Observational study shows low dose aspirin users had 47% lower Covid death rate

Similar topic discussed here 7 months ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22702941 ('D, L-lysine acetylsalicylate and glycine Impairs Coronavirus Replication (2016) [pdf]')

from this topic https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=22703132 summarizes:

> According to the Medcram youtube series, NSAIDs in general are known to impair virus replication, but also impair immune function. What is the net result? That is less clear. Many believe that aspirin had a negative effect during the 1918 flu epidemic though.

I remember (can't find sources now) that paracetamol is considered as safe, but aspirin has to many different workings, factors or interactions to be considered - when it may help or quite the opposite.

BTW. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.26514 ('Lowering the transmission and spread of human coronavirus'), referenced once on HN, has a table with 'nasal rinse and mouthwash gargling product's ingredients' - the best one working is Listerine Antiseptic with active ingredients (one is salicylate):

  Eucalyptol (0.092%)  
  Menthol (0.042%)  
  Methyl Salicylate (0.06%)
  Thymol (0.064%)

Regarding salicylates (with inhalations as my personal point of view), I found out mostly about their toxicity and higher doses, except the following (2011):

https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p825.abstrac... ('Aspirin inhalation treatment for COPD* patients: Preliminary studies on PK and inflammatory biomarkers')

- could it somehow be relevant ((anti-inflammatory, breath-helping and.. virus killing))?

(* Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, makes it harder to breathe, top reason Long-term exposure to chemical irritants as smoking)

" "This is a critical finding that needs to be confirmed through a randomized clinical trial," said study leader Jonathan Chow, MD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology at UMSOM. "If our finding is confirmed, it would make aspirin the first widely available, over-the-counter medication to reduce mortality in COVID-19 patients." "

Is it the aspirin? Or the underlying condition that stimulated the use of aspirin?

I see they tried to control for those. So it seems real.

Mediating variables?